Americans say "Drill," Democrats listen
Jasmine Ashton
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: World
House Democrats passed a new energy bill on Sept. 17, created in response to the public outcry over high gas prices and U.S. dependence on foreign oil. According to a June Rasmussen poll, 67 percent of Americans believe that drilling off the coasts of California, Florida and other states will lower gas prices.
Drilling as a means of solving the energy crisis has been a divisive issue for many Americans. Congressional Democrats have historically opposed offshore drilling. However, pressure from their constituency has caused many moderate Democrats in Republican and swing districts to change their stance in order to avoid criticism that they are energy obstructionists.
According to The Hill, in her speech on the floor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the change came as a result of President Bush's decision to lift the 1982 moratorium on drilling in the outer continental shelf, which would allow oil companies to drill three miles offshore. Pelosi characterized the legislation as an attempt to protect the shoreline.
Senior Dan Jimenez, who spent last summer working for Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CN), said that the congressman changed his original stance on drilling in order to appease voters in his conservative district.
"My congressman's original stance was to support the 'use it or lose it bill' forcing oil companies to use government land they already had," said Jimenez. "But he changed his policy from no drilling to drilling based on what he was experiencing from his field organizers hearing 'drill drill.' Whereas the 2006 election was about the war, this election is about energy."
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Pelosi hailed the 236-189 vote a victory because, in addition to drilling, the bill included Democratic priorities including banning drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), closing corporate loopholes to crack down on improper oil speculation, and requiring holders of government oil leasers to use them or lose them.
Drilling as a means of solving the energy crisis has been a divisive issue for many Americans. Congressional Democrats have historically opposed offshore drilling. However, pressure from their constituency has caused many moderate Democrats in Republican and swing districts to change their stance in order to avoid criticism that they are energy obstructionists.
According to The Hill, in her speech on the floor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the change came as a result of President Bush's decision to lift the 1982 moratorium on drilling in the outer continental shelf, which would allow oil companies to drill three miles offshore. Pelosi characterized the legislation as an attempt to protect the shoreline.
Senior Dan Jimenez, who spent last summer working for Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CN), said that the congressman changed his original stance on drilling in order to appease voters in his conservative district.
"My congressman's original stance was to support the 'use it or lose it bill' forcing oil companies to use government land they already had," said Jimenez. "But he changed his policy from no drilling to drilling based on what he was experiencing from his field organizers hearing 'drill drill.' Whereas the 2006 election was about the war, this election is about energy."
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Pelosi hailed the 236-189 vote a victory because, in addition to drilling, the bill included Democratic priorities including banning drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), closing corporate loopholes to crack down on improper oil speculation, and requiring holders of government oil leasers to use them or lose them.
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